How Much Is Enough?

“How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”

The question rings down through history!

What caught my mind this morning is the disciples question “How?”  “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”   

The question is particularly interesting since, just a few chapter back in Mark, Jesus had already proven to the disciples that the impossible was possible, with God’s help. He did this by feeding five thousand hungry people with just  five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:38).  So why would they even need to ask how?  

It should have been clear to them that Jesus  takes what food is available and offers the to God.  Trusting that God would provide for the needs of the people. 

We are told over and over again, in scripture, how God provides for our every need.  Not necessarily our every want!  It is clear that Jesus depended on God for all of the marvels and miracles done through him.  Jesus was not fooled by his human abilities alone. And, Jesus asks us to Follow his lead.

What I hear so often, in discussions like this one, is the all too common question: “Well if God provides for our every need, then why are there so many hungry people in out world”?  

Do you know the answer to that pointedly honest question? 

Do you know why there are so many hungry and homeless people in the world? 

Read the story below again and pay attention to how it works!  Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”  

Did you get that?  

We are given so that we can share.  

Here is the concept!  

We are to be participants in this world wide hunger problem.  We, who are fortunate — blessed — with enough, are asked to share.  Share a just a portion of what we have to help those less fortunate.  That is how it work in God’s Kingdom!  At least that is the way it is suppose to work!  We all share what we can.  And God makes it enough!  

From the very beginning of The Story God has asked for our participation. It has been clear, throughout history, that God created us to take care of all of creation!  That does mean our brothers and sisters who are in need.  

It is not rocket science! 

I am just saying!

1 About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, 2 “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” 5 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” “Seven loaves,” they replied. 6 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. 7 A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 9 There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten. 10 Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha. 11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. 12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”(Mark 8”1-12)